Marine light



Sept. 2, 1941. e. w. ADAMS MARINE LIGHT PM a m W Z r--- a j Y Z 9 2 a 4 70/ Patented Sept. 2, 1941 MARINE Lrenr George W. Adams, Norfolk, Va. Application August 23, 1939, Serial N 0. 231,697

1 Claim.

My invention relates to mounts for marine lights and is directed more particularly to mounts for such lights which are carried on the mast or masts or other parts of the vessel and which are known as navigation or running lights.

With the foregoing in view, an object of my invention is to provide an improved mount for a marine light.

A further object is to provide an improved waterproof light mount which is integral with a. vessel mast. or other part of the vessel and includes means for removably attaching .a conventional lens thereto.

A further object is to provide an improved light mount integral with a vessel wherein a lighting fixture is removably attached to said mount and means are provided for removably attaching a conventional lens thereto.

A further object is to provide a novel lighting fixture for a marine light.

A further object is to provide a novel combination of a lighting fixture and mount therefor.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of my invention, combination and arrangements of the several parts, as will be readily apparent to those smlled in the art upon reference to the drawing and to the following detailed description.

, In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my mount with lens attached in position on a vessel mast, the mast being shown fragmentarily;

Figure 2 is a front view of my mount with the lens and cover plate removed;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the assembled mount with the lens removed and taken on a plane corresponding substantially to that indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of a modified cover plate and lighting fixture; and

Figure 5 is an end View of the fixture of Figure 4, the cover plate being omitted.

While the drawing illustrates my improved lamp mount attached to a vessel mast, it is to be understood that this merely illustrates one support for the mount. Obviously the mount can be attached to any suitable portion of the vessel.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters have been used throughout to designate like parts, It! indicates the mast of a marine vessel to which is attached by straps ll, or any other suitable means, the light mount l2 which com-1 prises a watertight casing formed of any suitable material. While the casing l2 has been shown as being rectangular, it is obvious that other shapes can be used if desired. Electric current is supplied to the casing l2 through a standard,

waterproof, armored cable l3 which enters the casing at the bottom thereof through a conventional stufiing box it. A conventional Fresnel lens [5 is attached to the front of the casing l2 by any suitable means, it being understood that the connection is a waterproof one.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, a continuous angle piece I! extends around the side Walls of the casing l2 inwardly of the free edges thereof and the flange lid of said angle seats a continuous waterproof gasket it on the outer surface of which is seated the cover plate I9. The cover plate i9 is secured in place by any suitable means, such as the screws l9a to permit removal of the plate. The upper end of the plate It mounts an outwardly extending integral conduit 29, the free end of which may be downwardly turned and which mounts a waterproof socket 2i carrying a conventional double, filament bulb 22. It is to be understood that the bulb 22 is positioned centrally of the Fresnel lens l5.

A single mast of a vessel may support from one to three of such lights as has just been described in vertically spaced relation-the number of lights depending upon the character of the vessel and other facts not material to the invention. Each light and mount of the series is outwardly the same as that just described and differs therefrom only in the wiring.

It is to be noted from Figure 2 that the fioor l2a of the casing I2 mounts a terminal block I6 which is secured to the floor l2a in any suitable manner (not shown). The terminal block I6 has a central set of terminals 24, 25, 24a to which are connected the wires 26 from the cable I3. From these terminals, leads 2! run through the conduit 2i! to the bulb 22. The is for a wire carrying negative current while the terminals 24 are for positive current. Three wires and leads Ziiand 21 are necessary for the double filament bulb 22 to tion of the light in the event one filament of the bulb burns out.

It is noted that the terminal block mounts additional sets of terminals 23, 23, 23a and 25, 25, 25a. Of these the terminals 23a and 25a are for negative current while the remaining terminals are for positive current. Wires 28 lead from the cable l3 to the terminals It also 25, 25, 25a and from there additional wires 25 Y terminal 24a insure non-interrupterminating in the socket 2 lead into a second stuffing box 30 and armored cable 3| in the lowermost side of the casing 12. Thus, the casing shown is the lowermost of two like light mounts, the cable 3|. leading to the upper one. Were there three such mounts additional wires would be connected to the terminals 23, 23, 23a and would lead out of the casing [2 via the cable 3|.

The flow of current to the bulbs is controlled from a central switching station (not shown) usually located in the. pilot house on the vessel.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that when it is necessary to clean or replace the lens l5 or to replace the bulb 22, it is only necessary to remove the lens from the mount. As the cover plate [9 need not be removed, the rest of the light is safely protected against spray or moisture during these operations and there is no danger of short circuits. At the same time, the cover plate l9 can be removed, if access to the interior of the casing I2 is desired-say for the purpose of connecting up a third light to the terminals 23, 23, 23a.

The stuffing box 36 has been placed in the lowermost surface of the casing because I have found that it is dangerous to have any sort of opening in the upper surface. No matter how well such upper openings may be protected by seals, I have found that moisture will seep through and that it is only when they are located as shown that a perfect seal can be obtained.

The modification of Figures 4 and 5 is the same as the preferred form except for the structure of the cover plate. In this form the cover plate 39 carries on its inner surface a socket 40 to which is connected the leads 4| from the terminal block (not shown). The outer surface of the plate 39 mounts a sealing gasket 42 which surrounds three openings 39a in the plate only one of which is shown. Three prongs 43 of a plug 44 pass through the openings 39a and into the socket 49. The plug 44 mounts a conduit 45 2| which mounts the bulb 22. The gasket may be secured to the plate 39 by screws 42a and the socket 40 may be secured to its respective side of the plate 39 in any suitable manner (not shown).

particularly advantageous It is apparent from the foregoing that in this form of the invention, the entire lighting fixture 44, 45, 2|, 22 may be removed from the plate 39 whenever it is found desirable. When this has been done a suitable blank plug (not shown) is inserted in the socket 4D to seal the same against the entrance of moisture until such time as the working fixture is replaced. Such blank plug conforms in configuration to the working plug 44 but, of course, has no conduit or socket attached thereto. This form of the invention is in that it permits the socket 2| to be readily removed in the event that it becomes damaged. It is to be remembered that the mount is located upon a mast and that repairs would be diflicult to make at the mount proper during rough weather.

While I have shown and described what are now thought to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the disclosure is regarded as illustrative rather than limitative and that I do not intend to limit myself to the precise disclosure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

A mount for an electric marine light, comprising an open casing having a bottom, top, and side walls, electric terminals in said casing, a moisture proof entrance for current carrying wires in said bottom wall, a continuous inwardly-directed flange carried by said walls inwardly of the free edges thereof, a cover for said casing seated on said flange, a moisture proof sealing gasket between said cover and flange, means removably connecting said cover to said flange, a plug-in socket carried by the inner surface of said cover and connected to said terminals, an opening through said cover over said socket, a lighting fixture including plug-in prongs removably inserted in said socket through said opening from the outside of said cover, a moisture proof seal between said fixture and cover around said opening, and means on said casing removably attaching a semi-cylindrical Fresnel lens to said casing outwardly of said cover, said lens covering said cover and enclosing said fixture.

GEORGE W. ADAMS. 

